There is a major flaw with a proposed new polyclinic in Harrow, according to its council critics - parking.

There is a major flaw with a proposed new polyclinic in Harrow, according to its council critics - parking.

"The problem is access. You can't park," said Councillor Jeremy Zeid (Con).

"I was rather concerned that the PCT was looking to Transport for London to provide improvements to bus links yet the problem is not the bus links: if you're ill or elderly or with children, your first choice isn't going to be public transport.

"The suggeston is they should have some sort of community transport. Nobody seems prepared to address this elephant in the room."

Harrow Primary Care Trust (PCT) wants to expand Alexandra Avenue Health and Social Care Centre, in Alexandra Avenue, into one of the new breed of super clinics unveiled in a recent NHS review.

But Mr Zeid and colleagues on Harrow Council's overview and scrutiny committee are yet to be convinced, although some see an upside too.

Committee member and Labour spokeswoman for adult health and social care, Councillor Rekha Shah, said: "Parking is a big problem.

"To be frank, it's not an appropriate location in terms of transport but it's very well equipped and underused.

"I don't think it is an experiment.

"I welcome the new clinic and I think we're privileged in Harrow to have it."

Gareth Thomas, Labour MP for Harrow West, added: "It will have an urgent-care clinic, which will open from 8am-8pm and be able to treat any minor injury.

"The average waiting time at the urgent-care clinic at North-wick Park Hospital is 22 minutes.

"If we can achieve that, that is tremendous improvement in the quality of care for people living in South Harrow."

There were also concerns the centre could become like Edgware Community Hospital, a walk-in centre for minor injuries in Burnt Oak Broadway which can suffer from long waiting times.

Consultation about the poly-clinic, which should open by April 2009 to become one of the first five new super surgeries in London, is due to begin soon.